When I first came across Dino Hab, I imagined it as a sort of Tamagotchi experience set in Virtual Reality, but featuring real dinosaurs. I believe this concept has great potential in the VR space, but I wondered if it would offer enough depth to keep players coming back for more. After raising several different dinosaurs, I found myself asking: did it provide the motivation I needed to return?
Release Date: December 19th 2024
Developer: Dark Slope Inc.
Publisher: 30 Ninjas
Price: £11.99
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Access Provided For Review *
I want to kick things off by expressing how impressed I am with the team at Dark Slope Inc. They have infused the game with far more depth than I anticipated. I initially thought it would lean more towards being educational, but the gameplay offers a surprising level of complexity. It’s designed in a way that younger players can grasp it easily, while still engaging adult gamers, which is quite a challenge to achieve.
The key aspect of Dino Hab goes beyond just creating a habitat for your dinosaurs; it’s all about thoughtful planning to ensure their well-being. You’ll want to strategically place your plants in the best spots for growth, which will be indicated by colors like red, yellow, and green to show how suitable each location is. Additionally, consider the variety of plants you have and how they are distributed, so your dinosaurs can easily find food and shelter as they explore their environment. You can help your plants grow faster by placing fungi and dinosaur dung nearby; this will contribute to a thriving habitat.
To ensure a diverse range of plants, you also need to focus on taking care of your dinosaurs, as this is closely linked to creating their habitat. By looking after your dinosaurs, you earn DinoPoints, which can be used to buy additional plants and fungi for their environment. You can interact with your dinosaurs by petting them, which I loved doing since they are all so adorable! If they want more attention, they will glow blue. Additionally, you’ll receive caretaking tasks marked as little pink dots on the map, which you can click on to begin.
You receive extra assistance in taking care of your dinosaurs through a scanning tool, which helps you understand their needs. This might mean they require more petting, additional food, or some shelter. It’s crucial to ensure your dinosaur has everything necessary to remain healthy. I was surprised to learn that your dinosaurs can actually die if their needs aren’t met. The first time I encountered a dinosaur that had passed away during my gameplay, it was quite sad, highlighting the bond you form with them as they develop. I believe that virtual reality enhances this experience, making you feel like you’re truly nurturing them in their environment.
Another unexpected aspect of the experience was the environmental events and the challenges they introduced. These events include storms and meteor showers, which can adversely affect your vegetation. This adds an extra layer of difficulty when caring for your dinosaurs, as you’ll need to focus on rebuilding their habitat. You’ll also have to carefully manage how you distribute food among them while you work on repairs. This really highlights the bond you develop with the dinosaurs you’re raising; witnessing them tremble from the destruction makes you eager to restore their home as quickly as you can.
As you explore various biomes and begin to care for new dinosaurs, everything starts to click into place. The fantastic part is that you’ve gained valuable insights from your experiences in the earlier biome. I noticed that I was much more strategic about where I placed my vegetation compared to my first biome. With a deeper understanding of different plants and fungi, along with the effective use of the time enhancement tool, I felt more confident in my planning.
Dark Slope Inc. has excelled in creating immersive biomes that transport you to these unique locations while you nurture your pet dinosaurs. Although the environments and plants feature less detailed textures, the extra attention given to the dinosaurs really stands out. This choice was spot on, as the dinosaurs are the central focus of the game. You quickly become aware of their massive size, especially when the larger dinosaurs lean down to take food from your hand, leaving you in awe each time.
The audio in the game may not break new ground, but it effectively maintains your immersion. Each biome features its own environmental sounds, complemented by the noises from events and dinosaurs, all layered with soothing background music to keep you engaged and avoid any awkward silences. The voice acting for your assistant is decent, but the frequent notifications about new information in your Dinopedia after scanning can become a bit tiresome. You quickly realise it’s beneficial to check after scanning plants or dinosaurs.
The game features a Mixed Reality mode that you can access by stepping into the portal inside of the habitat. Once you do, your playspace transforms, and a portal appears on your wall, connecting you to another world. You can not only peek into this new realm, but if you scan a baby or child dinosaur and designate it as your buddy, it will come through the portal and join you in your actual room. This means you could have a little dinosaur exploring your home! While it’s more of a delightful bonus, it’s executed beautifully.
Posture | Supported |
---|---|
Standing mode | Yes |
Seated Mode | Yes |
Artificial Crouch | No |
Real Crouch | Yes |
Movement | Supported |
Smooth Locomotion | Yes |
- Adjustable Speed | Yes |
Teleport | Yes |
Blinders/Vignette | No |
- Adjustable Strength | N/A |
Head-based | Yes |
Controller-based | No |
Dominant Hand Switcher | Yes |
Turning | Supported |
Smooth Turning | Yes |
- Adjustable Speed | Yes |
Snap Turning | Yes |
- Adjustable increments | Yes |
Input | Supported |
Tracked Controllers | Yes |
Hand Tracking | No |
Gamepad | No |
Dino Hab excels at blending education with gameplay that is both deep enough for kids to grasp and engaging for adults, which is quite an achievement. It provides a solid understanding of how to create a thriving biome while ensuring that your dinosaurs have everything they need to flourish. The game introduces unexpected elements like environmental challenges and even the loss of your dinosaurs, adding layers of difficulty and emotional weight. This really highlights how Virtual Reality can enhance your connection to the creatures you care for in the game. Plus, the Mixed Reality mode lets you bring a baby or child dinosaur into your home, adding an extra touch of magic to the experience.